Gardening in December in Arizona

Here is a garden update, on this December 21st.

Merry Christmas Las Vegas

Since AFTER Christmas has become so very busy, we chose to deliver Christmas early to our sweet Vegas grandkiddos. We left on Saturday, returned home on Sunday, and in between was the most fun!

Papa had been constructing a sandbox for the kids as their main gift (Grammy left stocking items for each family member in gift bags to be opened after their family Christmas.

Papa and Ethan had accumulated some tools and wood, so the boys now can construct just about anything they can dream up. Grace got an art kit...though she really wanted a toolbox tool

We attended their Ward Chistmas Party that night, which was lots of fun. The kids did a skit before the meal.

Joshy was a sheep,

Then we visited with Santa and ate dinner. A fun night!

Doran and Amber Rice Family Pictures

Already December...

December 1st is special...It's Joshy's birthday. Though we couldn't be there to celebrate with him, we did mail him a new book and some money. He LOVES Thomas the Train, and loved Mommy making him a cake! Happy 4th Birthday, sweet Joshy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Cameo volunteered to host the family Thanksgiving feast this year. I volunteered to bring Dee's grilled half turkey (new to his repertoire...and awesome!), mashed potatoes and gravy, and our cranberry marshmallow salad. My morning was spent watching my favorite Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, boiling and ricing potatoes, and making the whipped cream for the cranberry salad.

Ethan and Cameo had turned Man Cave into Family Dining Room, complete with huge table! Ethan and Cameo provided the best smoked turkey, Nano made the stuffing, Liz brought a delicious Italian appetizer, Jade and James brought drinks, and Doran made an awesome pumpkin pie! All were happily stuffed...and set out on very early shopping trips.

Ethan's turkey right out of the smoker. 

Sisters: Cameo and Jade

Nano and Kaylee visit

Doran and Ethan flying R/C airplane

Many awesome choices

Sweet Kaylee tuckered out at the end of the day!

Testing...Testing...

I jog by the Phoenix LDS Temple being constructed almost every day. It is beautiful and I have to pinch myself when I think that a temple is going to be so near to us! One evening, a friend in our ward called, telling us they were testing the illuminating lights on the temple. We flew out the door, with out the camera, so this is the best a cell phone could do.

Not sure what I was looking at...but isn't it glorious!

A Monster of a Shower for Baby Kooper

Cameo and I gave Amber...and Kooper...a family baby shower.
Cameo had so many newborn diapers left over from Kaylee, so we made not one, but two diaper cakes: one for Kooper and one for Baby Boy Wilkins.
Amber is decorating his room in a monster theme, so we went with that for our shower. We had games and ate chicken salad sandwiches and pumpkin cupcakes.
Lots of fun.

Baby Bubble Bath Punch

Kaylee had fun too!

Kelsie was a great helper!